Contractual obligations and others

The table below summarises our principal contractual obligations at December 31, 2022, by expected settlement period. The amounts presented have not been offset by any committed third-party revenue in relation to these obligations.

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Contractual obligations

$ billion

Less than
1 year

Between
1 and 3 years

Between
3 and 5 years

5 years
and later

Total

Debt [A]

4.6

10.6

6.5

35.7

57.4

Leases

5.9

9.1

6.5

17.9

39.4

Purchase obligations [B]

34.1

30.9

18.4

63.8

147.2

Other long-term contractual liabilities [C]

0.2

0.6

0.1

0.6

1.5

Total

44.8

51.2

31.5

118.0

245.5

[A]	See Note 20 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements”. Debt contractual obligations exclude interest, which is estimated to be $1.7 billion payable in less than one year, $3.0 billion between one and three years, $2.5 billion between three and five years, and $14.8 billion in five years and later. For this purpose, we assume that interest rates with respect to variable interest rate debt remain constant at the rates in effect at December 31, 2022, and that there is no change in the aggregate principal amount of debt other than repayment at scheduled maturity as reflected in the table. Lease contractual obligations include interest.
[B]	Purchase obligations disclosed in the above table exclude commodity purchase obligations that are not fixed or determinable and are principally intended to be resold in a short period of time through sale agreements with third parties. Examples include long-term non-cancellable LNG and natural gas purchase commitments and commitments to purchase refined products or crude oil at market prices. Inclusion of such commitments would not be meaningful in measuring liquidity and cash flow, as the cash outflows generated by these purchases will generally be offset in the same periods by cash received from the related sales transactions.
[C]	Includes obligations included in “Trade and other payables” and provisions related to onerous contracts included in “Decommissioning and other provisions“ in “Non-current liabilities” in the “Consolidated Balance Sheet” that are contractually fixed as to timing and amount. In addition to these amounts, Shell has certain obligations that are not contractually fixed as to timing and amount, including contributions to defined benefit pension plans (see Note 23 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements”) and obligations associated with decommissioning and restoration (see Note 24 to the “Consolidated Financial Statements”).

Guarantees and other off-balance sheet arrangements

There were no guarantees or other off-balance sheet arrangements at December 31, 2022, or December 31, 2021, that were reasonably likely to have a material effect on Shell.

Financial information relating to the Royal Dutch Shell Dividend Access Trust

The results of the Royal Dutch Shell Dividend Access Trust (the Trust) are included in the consolidated results of operations and financial position of Shell. See “Royal Dutch Shell Dividend Access Trust Financial Statements”. Certain condensed financial information in respect of the Trust is given below.

The Shell Transport and Trading Company Limited and BG Group Limited have each issued a dividend access share to Computershare Trustees (Jersey) Limited (the Trustee). For the years 2022, 2021 and 2020, the Trust recorded income before tax of £nil, £2.2 billion, and £2.8 billion respectively. In each period, this reflected the amount of dividends payable on the dividend access shares. Dividends are also classified as unclaimed where amounts have not cleared recipient bank accounts.

At December 31, 2022, the Trust had total equity of £nil (December 31, 2021: £nil; December 31, 2020: £nil), reflecting assets of £6 million (December 31, 2021: £7 million; December 31, 2020: £7 million) and unclaimed dividends of £6 million (December 31, 2021: £7 million; December 31, 2020: £7 million). The Trust only records a liability for an unclaimed dividend, to the extent that dividend cheque payments have not been presented within 12 months, have expired or have been returned unpresented.

On January 29, 2022, one line of shares was established through assimilation of each A share and each B share into one ordinary share of the Company. This assimilation had no impact on voting rights or dividend entitlements. Dutch withholding tax, applied previously on dividends on A shares, no longer applies on dividends paid on the ordinary shares following the assimilation.

In relation to the assimilation of the Company’s A and B shares, the Trust will continue in existence for the foreseeable future to facilitate the payment of unclaimed dividend liabilities for shareholders of the former B shares until these are either claimed or forfeited in line with the terms outlined.

Contractual obligations and others

Guarantees and other off-balance sheet arrangements

Financial information relating to the Royal Dutch Shell Dividend Access Trust

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